Home Run Derby 2012: Predicting Round by Round Who Will Win the HR Derby

Some of the best home run hitters in baseball will battle it out to become the 2012 Home Run Derby champion during All-Star Weekend in Kansas City. One thing is for certain, baseballs will be flying through the sky on Monday night.

The Home Run Derby will pit eight sluggers, four from the American League and four from the National League against each other. The players always have fun with this event, but they certainly take it seriously.

Some of the players match up with Kauffman Stadium more than others, but all of the players have the talent and the power to win the event, so predicting a winner for the 2012 Home Run Derby is no easy task.

1st Round

A good first round can really give a player an advantage when it comes to making it into the finals. There is much less pressure on them to put up a big home run total in the second round.

Jose Bautista will demonstrate the power that he has shown over the past two years and have the highest total in the first round of the 2012 Home Run Derby.

Reigning champion Robinson Cano will get into the second round for the second straight year, where he will join first-time All-Star Mark Trumbo. Matt Kemp will also put on a good show and become the fourth and final player to make it into the second round.

2nd Round

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Predictions:

Robinson Cano - 10

Jose Bautista - 9

Matt Kemp - 8

Mark Trumbo - 6

Subtotals:

Jose Bautista - 23

Robinson Cano - 21

Matt Kemp -17

Mark Trumbo - 15

Robinson Cano will show off his power once again this year and lead the second round of the 2012 Home Run Derby. This power display will allow Cano to reach the finals and give him a chance to defend his title.

Jose Bautista should hit at least a few very long home runs during the second round, which should be enough to get him into the finals.

Matt Kemp will try to challenge for a spot in the finals, but his rust from playing in less than 40 games in the first half of the year will show, and he will not be able to hit enough home runs to move on.

Fifteen home runs between the first two rounds is certainly not a shabby total, but it will not be enough to get Mark Trumbo into the finals.

Finals

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Projections:

Jose Bautista - 8

Robinson Cano - 7

Robinson Cano will have a tough task trying to repeat as the Home Run Derby champion since he will be facing off against Jose Bautista. The two will both hit a number of towering home runs, but only one of them can come out as the winner.

At the end of the day, the fans will leave happy after watching all of the towering long balls and laser home runs, but it will be Bautista going home with a nice, shiny trophy.